Aa
Psalm 81
A Call to Obedience
For the choir director: on the Gittith. Of Asaph.81:0 1Ch 16:5,7; Ps 8; 84
1Sing for joy to God our strength;
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.81:1 Ps 59:16; 95:1–2; 98:4
2Lift up a song — play the tambourine,
the melodious lyre, and the harp.81:2 Ps 33:2; 71:22; 92:3
3Blow the ram’s horn on the day of our feasts81:3 Lit feast
during the new moon81:3 Lv 23:24; Nm 10:10; 29:1
and during the full moon.
4For this is a statute for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.81:4 1Ch 16:17; Ps 105:10
5He set it up as a decree for Joseph
when he went throughout81:5 Or he gained authority over the land of Egypt.81:5 Ps 78:5; 122:4
I heard an unfamiliar language:
6“I relieved his shoulder from the burden;
his hands were freed from carrying the basket.81:6 Is 9:4; 10:27
7You called out in distress, and I rescued you;
I answered you from the thundercloud.81:7 Ex 14:24; 20:18–20
I tested you at the Waters of Meribah.81:7 Ex 17:1–7; Nm 20:2–13Selah
8Listen, my people, and I will admonish you.
Israel, if you would only listen to me!81:8 Ps 50:7
9There must not be a strange god among you;
you must not bow down to a foreign god.81:9 Ex 20:3–5; 22:20; 34:14
10I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up from the land of Egypt.81:10 Ex 20:2; Dt 5:6
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.81:10 Ps 78:25; 107:9

11“But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel did not obey me.81:11 Jr 7:24; 13:10
12So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
to follow their own plans.81:12 Jb 8:4; Jr 11:8
13If only my people would listen to me
and Israel would follow my ways,81:13 Dt 5:29; Is 48:18
14I would quickly subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.”81:14 Ps 18:47; 47:3; Am 1:8
15Those who hate the Lord
would cower to him;81:15 Ps 18:44; 66:3
their doom would last forever.81:15 Dt 32:35
16But he would feed Israel81:16 Lit him with the best wheat.
“I would satisfy you with honey from the rock.”81:16 Nm 18:12; Dt 32:13–14; Ps 147:14